Crusaders pull past Ravenswood in late rally

Cinalli picks up mound victory as PC improves to 9-0

April 10, 2013

DAVISVILLE -Unbeaten Parkersburg Catholic used its speed and base-running skills to eke out a 4-2 come-from-behind win over visiting Ravenswood Tuesday afternoon at Marshall Field.

"We kept at them," said Crusaders' head coach Tom Harvey. "Finally, we got ahead and were able to bring Mitch (Davis) in. Give our guys credit, they don't give up."

The victory raised Parkersburg Catholic's mark to 9-0 on the season with a home encounter against visiting Wirt County slated for 4:30 p.m. today while the Red Devils dropped to 4-9 overall with a road game against Parkersburg South slated to start at 6 p.m. at Hank Greenburg Field.

"We just can't get the good hit to fall," said Ravenswood head coach Wes Swain. "Our guys are hitting the ball hard, but they aren't falling in."

The first inning was a perfect example as the Red Devils put runners on second and third with two outs. However, Logan Jarrett and Devon Crews were left stranded on third and second base, respectively, when the Crusaders' Nick Roedersheimer took away a sure-to-be 2-run double by Ravenswood catcher Trey Hatcher.

Ravenswood did get on the board with single runs in the next two innings to take a 2-0 lead. Heath Burgess led off the second by reaching base on an error, then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring the game's first run on a sacrifice fly by Ben Johnson.

The Jackson Countians tallied their final run of the game in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Isaac Crow, which brought home Crews, but it was the final time the visitors would cross home plate as Parkersburg Catholic centerfielder Davis made a diving catch to end a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Red Devils.

Keeping the Crusaders close until they got their bats, and legs, going was right-hander Andrew Cinalli. The Crusaders' starter scattered eight hits over his six innings of work, walking only one and striking out four. The hard luck losing pitcher was the visitors' Jessie Brown, who struck out seven and walked only two in going the distance.

Parkersburg Catholic knotted the game at two in the home half of the fourth. Davis got things rolling with a one-out walk. The Crusaders' centerfielder reached second on a wild pitch and then came home with the hosts' first run on a single by Jake Ullman.

Ullman, who advanced to third on the play when the ball got past the Red Devils' outfielder, scored on a deep pop out behind first base by second baseman Austin Luther.

Neither team could get anything going in the fifth. That changed, however, in the bottom of the sixth.

Roedersheimer led off with an infield single and advanced to second when Jake Boice was hit by a Brown pitch. Davis followed with a sharp grounder back to the pitcher, who erased Roedersheimer at third. But, Ullman brought home the game-winning run on a fielder's choice and then the Crusaders' added a second run on a sacrifice fly by Luther.

"Mitch and Nick made some big plays in the field that stopped some rallies and we made the most out of the hits we got," said Harvey.